Challenge 532

I Left My Art in San Francisco

1. In James Bright’s “Pyrrhic Victory,” part 2, what is a “Sight”?

2. In Curtis Pierce’s “Artesian Moon,” are the situations of Jerethian Quith and Jake Johnson exactly equal but opposite or is there an essential difference between them?

3. In LaVerne Zocco’s “Luck of the Draw”:

   1. What is the function of Sherman and the Distict Attorney discussing the case of John Rogers?
   2. It is unlikely but not implausible that Sherman could have such a long career as a kidnapper and serial killer; such cases occur in real life. Rather, Kathy identifies the story as an allegory. What does it represent?
   3. Considering the circumstances, who do you think acts more logically: Sherman or Kathy?

4. In Merrill Cole’s “A Gray Princess”:

   1. What appear to be the motivation and object of the Gray Princess’ quest?
   2. What are the functions of the white princess and the “Black Witch”?
   3. Is the Gray Princess’ end a murder or a suicide?
   4. Do you think the story is an allegory? If so, does it contain a key to what it might represent?

5. In Charles D. Tarlton’s “Take Just One”:

   1. Why might readers suspect that the narrator understands Spanish better than he speaks it? What grammatical errors do he and the artist make?
   2. The artist tells the narrator, “I doubt you’d understand it.” What question is he replying to?
   3. What is the significance of the artist’s remaining a nameless recluse?
   4. Could the kind of artistic “renaissance” described in the story take place anywhere else than in San Francisco?

6. In B. C. Bamber’s “Say Goodbye to Macy”:

   1. What lies does Simon Weller tell in the course of his investigation? For what purposes?
   2. After Simon first visits the children’s home, he says his meeting with Macy has played out exactly as it did in his dream. That is not quite accurate. What is the difference between his dream and the reality?
   3. Simon tries unsuccessfully to explain his dream of Macy and the children’s home. What explanation might an author invoke that does not involve “God”?
   4. Does Simon Weller adopt Macy or does some other process take place?
   5. The real Macy says only two sentences in the course of the story: what are they?
   6. How does the real Macy seem to feel about Simon’s intervention? Does anyone ask her?

Responses welcome!

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